Garment supporting frame for luggage cases



Nov. 28, 1939. A. LEVINE GARMENT SUPPORTING FRAME FOR LUGGAGE CASES 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 15, 1957 ATTORNEY.

Nov. 2s, 1.939. A LEVINE 218L334 GARMENT SUPPORTING FRAME FOR LUGGAGE CASES Filed Nov. 13, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY.

Nov. 28,4939. A. LEVINE GARMENT SUPPORTING FRAME FOR LUGGAGE CASES Filed Nov. 15, 1957 4 snets-sneet 3 INVENTOR.

sYyym ATTORNEY.

Nov. 28, 1939. A LE'WNE 2.181.334

GARMENT. SUPPORTING FRAME FOR LUGGAGE CASES 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed NOV. 15, 1937 INVESTOR.

ATTORNEY.

Patented Nov. 28, 15939 GARMENT SUPPORTING FRAME FOR LUGGAGE CASES Abraham Levine, Elizabeth, N. J., assignor to Presto Lock Corporation, Brooklyn, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application November 13, 1937, Serial No. 174,363

6 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in garment supporting and folding frames for use in luggage cases, trunks and the like; and the in-.v

vention has reference, more particularly, to a foldable garment supporting frame adapted to fold and support garments, -mounted. thereon, smoothly and compactly into a compartment or space within the case, trunk orthe like, such, for example, as the space defined by the cover section of the latter, while also being adapted to unfold to an outwardly projectingrelation to the case, trunk or the like, whereby the garments;

may be presented in freely, suspended relation therefrom, subject toselective removal.

This invention has for an object to provide a novel and simple garment folding and supporting frame for the purposes above mentioned, the same being so arranged as to be capable of a triple folding manipulation, whereby compara- 20 tively long or full length garments may be mount-- ed thereon and thereupon folded so as to be smoothly spread in the direction of their width and sufficiently foreshortened in direction of their length to compactly fit into the luggage interior space within which the same are desired to be stored and carried, and whereby when the frame is unfolded and extended, the garments will be likewise unfolded and positioned so as to be freely suspended at full length beyond the confines of the luggage case. i

This invention has for a furtherobject to provide a novel construction of folding frame comprising a main section, an extensible section or part pivotally connected to-the outer end of said main section, and an outer section or part pivotally connected to the outer end of said extensible section, means being provided for automatically interlocking said outer and extensible sec-v tions together in parallel against relative -displacement and for a common folding movement relative to said main section.

The invention has'for further objects to provide, in combination Witha foldable garment supportirv frame of the .kind mentioned, novel means forsupporti-ng the frame in its unfolded and projected relation to the luggage case served thereby, and also releasable means for locking the frame, when in folded condition, into the interior space of the luggage case into which it folds.

Other objects of this invention, not'at this time more particularly enumerated, will be understood from the following detailed description of the invention. I

-An illustrative embodiment of the inventionis shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a luggage case equipped with the novel garment supporting frame according to this invention, the latter be-' ing shown in its infolded and securedrelation to 5 and within the interior of the cover section of the case; Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the same, taken on line 2-2 in Fig. 1, but with the garment supporting frame unfolded to its projected position to dispose the garments -mounted thereon for free suspension outwardly of the case interior and beyond the front end of said case.

' Fig. 31s a side elevation of the garment supporting frame illustrating the first folding movement thereof; and Fig. 4 is a similar view illustrating the next succeeding folding movement thereof; these views being drawn on a reduced scale.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary side View of portions of the frame, to show the movement of the outer section thereof relative to the extensible section and preparatory to the interlocking of these sections together; and Fig. 6 is a fragmentary top edgeelevation, the folded position 5 of the outer section relative to the extensible section being shown by broken lines.

Fig. 7 is a'view similar to that of Fig. 5 but showing the folding movement of the int'erfolded and interlocked outer and extensible sections relative to the main section; Fig. Sis a similar view showing the relative disposition of the parts upon Completion of the last mentioned folding movement; and Fig. 9 is a top edge elevation of the parts as disposed in Fig. 8.

. Fig. 10 is a. fragmentary front elevation of the outer frame section equipped with a modified form of garment hanger suspension means; and

Fig. 11 is an enlarged fragmentary top plan view of said modified garment hanger means.

Similar characters of reference are employed in theabove described views,.to.-indicate corresponding parts. Referring to the drawings, the reference character [indicates the body part of a hand luggage case and 2 indicates the cover part which is suitably hinged thereto for relative opening and closing movement. Collapsible stay devices 3 are pivotally interconnected betweensaid body and cover parts to hold said cover part in upright open relation to the body section when desired.

In the .novel garment supporting and folding frame according to this invention, the main section comprises a, pair of laterally spaced side bars l, the same being rigidly connected together by suitably spaced and disposed cross bars twoof these cross bars are shown, but more or less than two thereof may be optionally employed. Said main section is pivotally connected to and within the cover part of the case adjacent to the hinged end thereof. For this purpose bearing pieces ii are affixed to the side walls of said cover part, said bearing pieces having offset perforate ears '5 to receive the laterally projecting pivot pins 8 with which the inner end portions of said side bars i are provided. The outer ends of said side bars terminate in laterally offset portions 9. Affixed to said side bars 4 adjacent to their outer end portions are laterally projecting lock pins i0. Said lock pins Iii cooperate with means adapted to engage the same for holding the garment supporting and folding frame in its infolded position relative to the case cover part 2. An illustrative form of means to serve such purpose comprises bracket members II which are affixed in suitable locations to the side walls of said cover part 2, and by which are pivotally supported outwardly extending upwardly yieldable spring-pressed latch-arms l2 provided at their lower marginal portions with holding notches I3 to receive said lock-pins ii). Adjacent to their inner pivoted end portions, said main section side bars 4 are provided with laterally projecting stop-pins 4', which, when the frame main section is released and moved to outswung position forwardly extending over the case body part I,

engage the stay devices 3 to thereby arrest down swinging movement of said frame main section so as to dispose the same, preferably, in an upwardly and outwardly inclined position, as shown in Fig. 2.

The extensible section of the frame is formed by laterally spaced extension bars I4' which terminate at their inn-er ends in laterally offset portions iii. The inner ends of said extension bars H! are pivotally connected with the outer ends of said main section side bars 4 so as to be capable only of upward and inward swinging movement relative to the latter. To this end clippieces it embrace the lapped meeting ends of said extension bars It and side bars 4, so that the bottom walls ll engage the underside margins of the lapped meeting-ends of said bars in a manner to obstruct downward swinging movement of the extension bars M relativeto the side bars 4. The pivotal connection between said meeting ends of the bars l4! and 4 is provided by hinge pins l8 which extend therethrough and through the side walls of said clip-pieces l6.

Affixed to the inner faces of the laterally offset portions 95 of saidextension bars M are suitably shaped chambered housings l9. Preferably these housings l9 are integrally formed for extension from the inner side walls of said clippieces 86; the same being provided at their opposite ends with anchor tongues 20 which extend through the offsetting bends l5 by which the offset portions l5 of said extension bars [4 are connected with the main bodies of the latter. Said housings is, as thus mounted, have an afixed relation to the extension bars I4 so as to be unitary with, and so as to partake of the movements thereof when swung to and from folded relation to the side bars 4 of said frame main section. The offset portions of said side bars 4 and extension bars l4 form spaces accommodating said housings l9 so that their inner face walls are disposed in planes substantially coextensive with the inner face planes of the main portions of said extension arms 14. Sa1d housings 19 are open at the sides thereof bordering the upper margins of said extension arms l4. Formed in the free marginal edge portions of the inner face walls of said housings is are indented receiving sockets 2!, the purposes of which will be hereinafter described. Pivotally mounted within and in connection with said housings 99 are latch levers 22 which incline upwardly and outwardly therefrom toward the pivotal connections between said main section side bars 4 and extension bars M. Said latch levers 22 terminate in angular arms 23 to extend across the inner faces of said side bars l, said arms 23 in turn terminating in laterally projected stop lugs 25 which extend beneath and so as to be engageable by the lower marginal edges of the offset portions 9 of said main section side bars 4. Said latch levers are provided in their upper edge portions with indented latch notches 25 for purposes presently to be set forth, Said latch levers are provided with spring means 28 to yieldably urge the same in outswinging direction.

The outer section of the garment supporting and folding frame comprises a pair of laterally spaced side bars 21. Secured to and extending between said side bars 21, at points adjacent to the lower extremities thereof, is a transverse folder bar 28. Secured to and extending between the upper extremities of said outer section side bars 2! is a suspension fixture or head 29 to which garment hangers 30 carrying the garments 3| may be attached to the frame. Said side bars 21 are pivotally connected by hinge pins 32, at points intermediate their ends, to the outer extremities of said extension bars Hi, all in such manner that an inner or upper portion of said outer frame section may be infolded relative to and substantially into the plane of said extensible frame section. Said side bars 21 are provided, adjacent to their upper or inner ends with outwardly and laterally projecting latch studs 33. Affixed to the outer or lower portions of said outer frame section side bars 21, to project rearwardly therefrom, are foot-pieces 34 having downwardly directed bills 35 at their extremities.

The suspension fixture or head with which the outer frame section is provided may be made in various ways suitable to adapt the same for accommodation of various known types of garment hangers. One illustrative form of suspension fixture or head is shown in Figs. 1 to 9 inclusive, the same comprising parallel front and back bars 36 and 31, intermediate the ends of which is affixed a transverse bridge piece 38 for extension therebetween. Over this bridge piece may be engaged the suspension hooks 39 of the garment hangers 30. Connected to the back bar 31 by hinge means 4!! is a keeper latch 4!. This keeper latch may be turned downwardly across the engaged suspension hooks 39 of the garment hangers 3D to prevent accidental displacement thereof from operative engaged relation to the bridge piece 38. At its free end, said keeper latch terminates in a downwardly directed resilient latch tongue 42 adapted to pass over the front bar 38; said latch tongue having a nosing 43 to releaseably engage the lower margin of said front bar 36 to thereby hold the keeper latch in service position.

Another illustrative form of suspension fixture or head is shown in Figs. and 11, the same comprising a base bar 44 provided at its ends with laterally extending arms to receive fixed attachment thereto of the upper end portions of the outer frame section side bars 21. Afiixed to said base bar 44, adjacent to the ends thereof having enlarged heads 48-at their outer free extremities. This type of suspension fixture or head is adapted to receive and support removable garment hanger members 49 having hooklike extremities 56 to engage respectively over the supporting bracket arms 46 and their extensions 41, so that the hanger members 40 bridge between said bracket arms and extensions. I

In the use and operation of the garment supporting and folding frame, assuming that the cover part 2 is in open relation to the body part I of the case, and the frame outswung and unfolded to opened out extended position, ready to receive application of a garment thereto, as shown in Fig. 2, the main frame section will extend, from its hinged or pivoted end, outwardly at a somewhat upward inclination over the case body part i, being supported in this position by the engagement of its stop pins 6 with the stays 3 which extend between the bodyand open cover of the case. The extensible section of the frame is outfolded, about the hinge pins l8, to extend outwardly from the outer end of said main frame section and in alignment therewith. When said extension bars M, constituting said extensible frame section, are moved to such extended position, the terminal stop lugs 24 of the latch levers 22 are brought into arrested engagement with the under edge of the main section side bar offset portions 9 before the outswinging movement of said extension bars M is completed, whereby completion of such movement produces an inswinging movement of said latch levers 22, against the tension of their springs 26, so that the mouths of the latch notches 25 are moved into substantial alignment with the relatively immovable receiving sockets 2| formed in the walls of the housings l9 alfixed to said extension bars l4, this relation of the parts being shown in Figs. 5 and 6 of the drawings. The outer, frame section is turned about the hinge pins 32, by which it is pivotally attached to the ends of the extension bars, to cause the same to assume a substantially perpendicular position substantially in the plane of the front wall of the body part i of the case. tion, when thus disposed, may be assured by en.- gaging the foot-pieces 34 over the upper edge of said front wall of the case body part, the bills of said foot-pieces serving to hook over the wall edge so as to hold the foot-pieces against displacement therefrom.

When the garment supporting and folding frame is opened out and disposed as above described, a garment 3!, such as the dress shown, being first draped over a garment hanger 3!] in the usual manner, is applied or attached to said outer frame section by engaging the suspension hook 39 of the hanger over the bridge-piece 38 of the suspension fixture or head 29 at the upper end of said outer frame section, whereupon the keeper latch AI is closed to retain the hanger against accidental displacement from its suspended relation to the fixture or head. It. will be noticed, that the garment 3| hangs down at full length across the face of the outer frame section and across the exterior of the forward end of the case body part I, and consequently is disposed entirely beyond the confines of the luggage case. If the case rests upon a table or like support, the garment may hang straight down a full length and in a very conveniently accessible will.

The stability. of the outer frame secdisposition. It will be obvious that a plurality of garments may be attached to the outer frame section in the manner described if desired; and that when a plurality of garments are thus mounted, the same are very conveniently disposed for. selective removal from the frame at The manipulation'and operation of the frame, when it is desired to fold therewith the garment or garments attached thereto, and deposit and secure the same in smoothly spread folded condition within the interior space of the case cover part 2, will now be described. I

To initiate the frame and garment folding movements, the operator grasps the lower end of the outer frame section, and, first lifting the same to disengage the foot-pieces 34 from the case body wall, thereupon swings upwardly and outwardly the lower end portion thereof about the hinge pin connections with the extension bars M in the direction of the arrow a. in Fig. 3, thereby causing the upper end portion of said outer frame section to swing inwardlyand downwardly in-t'he direction of the arrow b in Fig. 3, to an ultimate aligned or parallel relatio-nto the extension bars M of said extensible frame section. As the upper end portion of said outer frame section moves into aligned or parallel relation to said extension bars 14,- the latch studs which project laterally outward from the side bars 2'! of said outer frame section, will be caused to enter the substantially aligned receiving sockets 2| and latch notches 25 respectively formed in the housing It and latch lever 22 (see Figs. 5 and 6). The above described initial folding movement of the outer frame section causes the garment 3! to spread smoothly across the samev between the suspension fixture or head 29 and the transverse folder bar 28, the free end of the garment 3! will fold over the folder bar 23 so as to hang therefrom.

Upon completion of the described initial folding movementfiof the outer frame section, the operator -continues the upswinging movement of the now outwardly extending lower end portion of said outer frame section, whereby both the extensible sectionand the same will together swing about the hinge pins l3 and move relative to the main framesection in the directions of the arrows 0 in Figs. 4 and 7. Such movement carries the stop lugs 24 of the latch levers 22 away from restraining engagement by the main section side bar offset portions 9, so that said latch levers 27. will be urged by the tension of springs 26 to an outswung position relative to said extension bars l4 and the housings l9 carried thereby. This outward movement of said latch levers 22 eifects a shifting of their latch notches 25 relative to said receiving sockets 2|, whereby sides of the former are disposed substantially across the mouths of the latter, thereby securing said'latch studs 33 of said outer frame section against escape from said receiving sockets 2i (see Figs. '7 and 8), and thus interlocking said outer frame section and extensible frame section against relative displacement from their folded together relation, both during succeeding folding movements ofthe frame structure as well as after the latter is secured in complete folded condition within the interior of the cover part 2 of the case. The inswinging movement of the thus interlocked outer and extensible frame sections is continued until the same are disposed in aligned or parallel relation to said main frame section. As this condition is reached the folder bar 28 of the outer frame section will be moved to a position more or less registered with the inner end of said main frame section, whereby an intermediate portion of the garment M will form a second fold smoothly spread between the inwardly disposed folder bar 28 and the outwardly disposed suspension fixture or head 29, with the remaining free end portion of the garment arranged to fold over and around the latter.

To accomplish the final folding movement of the frame structure, the main frame section, together with the interfolded and interlocked outer and extensible frame sections as infolded relative to said main frame section, is lifted and upswung about its pivot pins 8 in the direction of the arrow 11 in Fig. 8, thereby swinging the same upwardly into the interior of the cover part 2 of the case. When the frame structure is thus swung into said case cover part 2, the lock pins ill, which project laterally outward from the side bars 4 of said main section, pass over the yieldable free end portions of the latch-arms l2, whereby the latter are urged by their tensioning spring means to embrace said lock pins ill by their holding notches l3, and thus releasably secure the folded frame structure to said case cover part 2 and within the interior space thereof. When the frame structure is thus positioned, the remaining free end portion of the garment will form a third smoothly spread exterior the suspension fixture or head 29. This exterior fold may be held in place by cross straps, curtain or other suitable means (not shown) such as frequently provided in luggage cases having garment supporting and folding frames.

It will be obvious that various changes may be made in the above described constructions, and that many apparently widely different embodiments of this invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof as defined by the following claims. It is therefore intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. The combination with a luggage case having a body and a cover hinged thereto, stays to hold said cover in upright open relation to said body, a garment supporting and holding frame comprising a main section pivotally mounted within said cover adjacent the hinged end thereof, said main section having stop pins engageable with the stays to limit its out-swung movement so as to dispose the same in outwardly extending position overhanging the open body, an extensible section, means pivotally connecting said extensible section in foldable relation to said main section subject to unfolded aligned projection therefrom to overhang the free end of said open body, an outer section pivotally connected intermediate its ends in foldable relation to said extensible section subject to unfolded disposition substantially perpendicular thereto and substantially coincident to the vertical plane of said free end of the open body, and means for automatically interlocking said outer and extensible sections against relative displacement when disposed in folded relation and fold extending downwardly from thereupon together moved into aligned folded relation to said main section and turned therewith into the interior of said cover.

2. In a structure as defined in claim 1, wherein the sides of said outer frame section are provided with foot-pieces to engage the margin of the free end wall of said open body to thereby aid in supporting said unfolded outer section in upstanding relation thereto.

3. A garment supporting and folding frame for luggage cases as defined in claim 1, wherein the automatic interlocking means for the outer and extensible sections comprises latch studs on the outer section sides, latch stud receiving means affixed to the extensible section sides, pivoted spring pressed latch levers cooperative with said latch stud receiving means to hold said latch studs against displacement from the latter when entered therein with the frame in completely folded condition, and said latch levers having means engageable by said main section sides to dispose the latch levers in released positions when said extensible section is in opened out relation to said main section.

l. A garment supporting and folding frame for a luggage case comprising, an inner section adapted to be pivotally connected by its inner end with a portion of the case to swing into and out of the case interior, a relatively short middle section pivotally connected with the outer end of said inner section in foldable relation thereto subject to outswung aligned extension therefrom, means to stop said middle section in such aligned extension when outswung, an outer section approximating in length the length of said inner section, said outer section having means at its inner end for suspending a garment therefrom, a transverse garment folding means at the inner end of said outer section, and said outer section having another transverse garment folding means adjacent to its opposite end, said outer section being pivotally connected intermediate its ends to the outer end of said middle section thereby providing said outer section with an inward portion foldable relative to said middle section, means to stop said inward portion of the outer section in parallel relation to said middle section when infolded relative thereto, and said outer and middle sections, when so folded, being together movable about the pivotal connection between said middle and inner sections into parallel folded relation to said inner section to accompany any swinging movement of the latter, all whereby a garment suspended from the inner end of said outer section is at least thrice folded lengthwise when the frame is folded and swung into the case interior.

5. In a garment supporting and folding frame for a luggage case as defined in claim 4, means for automatically interlocking said outer and middle sections against relative displacement when disposed in folded relation and thereupon together folded relative to said inner section.

6. In a garment supporting and folding frame for a luggage case as defined in claim 4, means on said outer section to engage a portion of the luggage case to dispose said outer section in upstanding relation to the latter when the frame is opened out.

ABRAHAM LEVINE. 

